Mark Torpey is the sports editor of The Enterprise and The Patriot Ledger, and this is our all-sports blog. Use it as a jumping off point for our sport-specific blogs on Boston pro teams, or stay right here and talk about high school and college
...

Mark Torpey is the sports editor of The Enterprise and The Patriot Ledger, and this is our all-sports blog. Use it as a jumping off point for our sport-specific blogs on Boston pro teams, or stay right here and talk about high school and college sports and other topics.

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July 5, 2013
12:01 a.m.

Heading west for their longest road-trip of the season, the Red Sox closed the book on an 8 and 1 homestand by completing a sweep of San Diego behind a relentless offense and the first career victory of young Allen Webster. With each start, the boyish Webster’s appearance reminds me of a younger version of future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux and he is beginning to pitch more and more like a harder-throwing Maddux – mixing things up and moving the ball in and out and up and down. As an aside – one of the big discussions during last night’s viewing of the Sox had to do with the player most likely to enter the Hall by unanimous vote – my money would be on either Maddux or Derek Jeter.

So with 87-games behind them, what’s next for Boston presuming that they ease into the All Star break a week from Sunday still leading the A.L. East? Given the season of change affecting the other Boston sports clubs, would it be out of question for the Sox to trade Dustin Pedroia and amnesty David Ortiz’s contract (if such a thing was allowed by the union)? While I am being facetious with respect to Pedroia and Papi, is it out of bounds to still hope that the Red Sox move Jacoby Ellsbury and Stephen Drew before the trading deadline?

Ellsbury’s situation has to be the single most interesting decision facing the Red Sox management team. Other than during a two or three-week lull in May, the centerfielder has played his typical better than average defense (and I was at a game where he actually uncorked two long and accurate throws just last week) and has been hitting, getting on base, stealing, and scoring runs at an elite level. He was able to cap off today’s 3-hit day with his second homerun of the season – this after almost three-months where his power was on hiatus. I’ve advocated for the Red Sox to trade Ellsbury just to re-coup some value, but he is certainly making himself some money with his play lately. I don’t know that the Sox will give in to Scott Boras’ demands – but if they’ve decided that they turn centerfield over to Jackie Bradley Jr. next season, wouldn’t it make sense to move Ellsbury for some return before the end of this month?

The second issue around moving Ellsbury would be what the Sox got back, because even if Ben Cherington moved Ellsbury would he really be able to get a player or players that would help this year’s team? He’d likely take back prospects, so the Sox would be trading a popular player and depleting this year’s team. Ironically, Ellsbury is currently like the anti-Seguin – his productivity actually adds to the confusion around what to do with him.

The issue with Stephen Drew is much clearer. The Red Sox should trade him right now. I like what we’ve seen from Drew so far this year – but he is a short-timer here. The Sox should find a taker for Drew and continue to stockpile talent in the minors. Most assuredly if Boston is looking to add bullpen arms or another piece for the bench as the season turns towards August, it is going to take young players and Drew can net something.

Cherington has earned his pay so far this year – but he has some real tough decisions in front of him right now. He can either trade assets right now and keep building for the future or he can go all-in on this year knowing that the club should make the playoffs. There are no easy decisions and not everyone is going to be happy – unless the Sox win the World Series this year, resign Ellsbury, and pick up some players for the future somewhere along the way. Good luck, Ben.